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02/13/2018

Coffin Swap

A funeral home in Australia is accused of swapping a deceased person out of an expensive coffin after the service and placing the remains in a much cheaper one.

An Australian family claims it paid for a deceased relative to receive a fancy coffin worth $1,700. After the coffin was displayed at the funeral service, the coffin and the remains inside were then to be transferred to a crematorium. However, the funeral home delayed transporting the coffin by an hour.

When it finally arrived, someone went down to check and noticed that the expensive coffin had been replaced by a cheap wooden box worth $70. Peering inside the box led to the discovery that the deceased's body had been placed in it with letters written by her grandchild.

Upon being confronted by the family, the funeral director did not deny the swap. He claimed it was a common practice done to protect the more expensive coffin from the cold, as delays at the crematorium meant the remains would need to be frozen for some time.

This is just the latest scandal in a string of scandals in the funeral home industry in the U.S. and throughout the world. The industry is cutting corners at the expense of the decedents and their families.

People shop should around and make sure they are using a reputable funeral home. It is also important to pay attention to what the funeral home says and what it does.

If you are hesitant to sign a contract with a funeral home company, seek the advice of an elder law attorney.